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AU |
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Sen Gupta NC |
TI |
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Community participation in the tuberculosis programme.
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SO |
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BULL IUAT 1972, 47, 102-106. |
DT |
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Per |
AB |
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Several reasons for the failure to achieve the
expected results in TB control, globally, are presented and discussed
in detail with reference to the three basic components of a TB programme-
BCG vaccination, case-finding and treatment. They include the failure
of decision-makers and administrators responsible for formulating
and implementing NTPs to establish proper and realistic priorities
reflected in the choice of control measures and the allocation of
available resources to them. For instance, many developing countries
have opted for an expensive screening method (mass chest radiography)
rather than achieving effective results by provision of basic health
facilities within easy reach of everyone and by using direct microscopy
sputum examinations. Several countries have focussed on construction
of sanatoria when out-patient treatment has been proven to be as
effective as institutional treatment. The failure to bring the TB
programme to the most peripheral regions and to apply it on a country-wide
basis, the failure to orient the consumer sufficiently to the services
offered, and several socio-economic and patient factors have contributed
to limited success in anti-TB efforts. Given this background, a
community participation programme can help increase the success
rate of TB programmes by using volunteers in case-finding and in
reducing treatment default rate as demonstrated in Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
and Malaysia.
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KEYWORDS: COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION; SRI LANKA. |